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About this Place

The Des Moines Community Playhouse was founded in 1919 by members of the Iowa Press and Authors Club. Although the Little Theatre Movement was causing similar enterprises to spring up across the country, the Playhouse is unique in that it has operated continuously, under various names and in various homes, since its founding. With more than 90 years of uninterrupted service, the Playhouse is among the six oldest continuously-operating community theatres in the U.S. It is also the second largest community theatre in the U.S.

The Playhouse's mission is to partner with volunteers to create and deliver extraordinary theatre and education programs for communities in Central Iowa through high-quality entertainment with special emphasis on issues of social significance; programs which allow for the development of individual self-expression and self-esteem; and programs which identify and encourage individuals to pursue professional theatre development.